DNA vaccines against rotavirus infections

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to methods of eliciting an immune response and/or protective immunity in a vertebrate by introducing into the vertebrate a DNA vaccine which consists essentially of DNA encoding an antigen or antigens, e.g., capsid proteins or polypeptides, of rotavirus. The uptake of the DNA vaccine by a host vertebrate results in the expression of the capsid protein, thereby eliciting humoral or cell-mediated immune responses, or both, which can provide protection against infection and/or prevent clinically significant rotavirus-caused disease. In addition, the invention demonstrates that an internal vital antigen provides protective immunity in a host. The host can be any vertebrate, including birds, piglets, and humans.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a Continuation-in-Part of earlier filed (pending) U.S. application Ser. No. 08/187,879, filed Jan. 27, 1994, which is a Continuation-in-Part of (pending) U.S. application Ser. No. 08/009,833, filed Jan. 27, 1993, which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 07/855,562, filed Mar. 23, 1992, now abandoned, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rotavirus infections are ubiquitous throughout mammalian and avian species. The viruses appear to be species-specific although cross-species infections can be produced experimentally and may occur in nature to a limited extent. Infection occurs after ingestion of viral particles and is restricted to the mature absorptive epithelial cells on the villi of the small intestine. Multiplication of rotaviruses within these cells results in lysis, and eventual loss of normal villous structure. Copious acute watery diarrhea occurs as a result of intestinal damage and replacement of absorptive cells by secreting cells from the villous crypts.

Viral gastroenteritis resulting from rotavirus infection is a common cause of epidemic diarrhea in infants from 6 to 24 months of age. Untreated rotavirus diarrhea in young children can be rapidly fatal. The recovery phase in some young children can be very protracted (involving villous atrophy associated with lactose intolerance) and can lead to or exacerbate existing malnutrition (Bishop, R.F. (1993) Vaccine 11:247-254). In fact, rotaviruses appear to be responsible for at least one half of the cases of infantile diarrhea that require hospitalization, and have been estimated to cause 500,000 to 1,000,000 human deaths worldwide each year.

Rotavirus has occasionally been reported as a cause of disease in miliary populations, in hospital workers, and as a cause of travelers' diarrhea. The most common setting for adult disease is that associated with parenting infected infants. Approximately 50% of parents experience rotavirus infection at the time of infant rotavirus disease; one-third of these adult infections are symptomatic (Offit, P. A. and Clark, H. F. (1995) In: Principles and Practices of Infectious Diseases, 4th ed., Mandell, G. L. et al., eds. pp. 1448-1455) and references cited therein). Moreover, rotaviruses are known to cause diarrhea in agriculturally valuable animals such piglets, lambs, and foals, as well as in other animals such as rabbits, deer, and monkeys.

Currently, viral gastroenteritis therapy is limited to supportive measures, since there are no effective antiviral agents available for specific treatment. Prevention of rotavirus illness would be a major contribution to reduction of morbidity from gastroenteritis (Joklik, W. K., ed., Virology, 2nd. ed. (1985), Appleton-Century-Crofts, Norwalk, Conn., pp. 236-238).

Vaccination with inactivated or attenuated organisms or their products has been shown to be an effective method for increasing host resistance and ultimately has led to the eradication of certain common and serious infectious diseases. The use of vaccines is based on the stimulation of specific immune responses within a host.

Rotavirus vaccine development began with tests in children using live, attenuated vaccines from animal rotavirus strains. Two candidate vaccines, RIT4237 and WC3, both bovine serotype 6 viruses, have progressed to field trials (Estes, M. K. and Cohen, J. (1989), Microbiol. Rev. 53:410-449). The bovine strain RIT 4237 showed good efficacy when tested initially in developed countries, but failed to provide protection when tested in developing countries, and has been removed from further testing (Estes, M. K. and Cohen, J. (1989), supra).

Effective vaccines have been developed for relatively few of the infectious agents that cause disease in domestic animals and man. This reflects technical problems associated with the growth and attenuation of virulent strains of pathogens.

Other approaches to the development of candidate vaccines include "reassortants," which contain a single gene encoding the outer capsid glycoprotein from human virus serotypes on a rhesus rotavirus background. Such reassortant vaccines have been produced as potential vaccines to induce homotypic immune response to the four human serotypes (Midthun et al., J. Virol. (1985) 53:949-954; and Estes M. K. and Cohen, J. (1989), supra).

Group A rotaviruses contain seven structural proteins. Of these, the two outer capsid proteins, VP4 and VP7, appear to be the major proteins that induce humoral and cellular immune responses (Estes, M. R. and Cohen, J. (1989) supra; and Dharakul, R. et al. (1991) J. Virol. 65:5928-5932).

VP7 has been the subject of experimental vaccine studies because it is the most abundant outer capsid protein, accounting for approximately 30% of the total virion protein, compared to 1.5% for VP4 (Estes M. R. and Cohen, J. (1989), supra). However, inoculation with vaccinia or adenovirus recombinant virus containing a gene encoding a recombinant VP7_(SC) gene, or a wild type SA-11 VP7 gene did not elicit protection against homologous rotavirus challenge in an adult mouse model (Dormitzer, P. et al. (1993) Abstr. IXth Intl. Congress of Virology, W21-2, p. 43; and Audio Tape, Dormitzer, P. et al. (Aug. 10, 1993) IXth Intl. Congress of Virology, Workshop W21).).

The major component of the inner capsid, VP6, is antigenically conserved among different serotypes of group A rotaviruses infecting animals, birds, and humans (Bellamy A. R. and Both, G.W., Adv. Virus Res. (1990) 38:1-43; Estes, M. (1991) In: Fundamental virology, 2nd edn, Fields B. N. and Knipe, D. M., eds., pp. 619-642). VP6 is highly immunogenic and antigenic (Estes, M. R. and Cohen, J. (1989), supra) but, paradoxically, does not generate neutralizing antibodies when assayed in vitro. VP6 coding sequence cloned into a vaccinia virus vector and administered to adult mice did not protect against rotavirus infection (Dormitzer, P. et al. (1993) Abstr. IXth Intl. Congress of Virology, W21-2, p. 43; and Audio Tape, Dormitzer, P. et al. (Aug. 10, 1993) IXth Intl. Congress of Virology, Workshop W21). Further, monoclonal antibodies to VP6 do not protect infant mice against rotavirus diarrhea (Riepenhoff-Talty, M. et al. (1987) Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 216B:1015-1023).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to specific DNA vaccines and methods of providing protective immunity to vertebrates, particularly humans and pigs, against a rotavirus infection. "Protective immunity" conferred by the method of the invention can elicit humoral and/or cell-mediated immune responses to rotavirus infection, but more importantly interferes with the activity, spread, or growth of a rotavirus following a subsequent challenge after vaccination. The DNA vaccines of the invention are transcription units containing DNA encoding a rotavirus polypeptide or protein. In the method of the present invention, a DNA vaccine is administered to an individual in whom protective immunization is desired.

An object of the invention is to provide an immune response and protective immunity to an animal using a DNA vaccine encoding a rotavirus protein as it has the potential of achieving high levels of protection in the virtual absence of side effects. Such DNA vaccines are also stable, easy to administer, and sufficiently cost-effective for widespread distribution.

An object of the invention is to provide protective immunity to an inoculated host. If the inoculated host is a female animal, an object of the invention is to provide protection in the offspring of that female.

The invention features a DNA vaccine containing a rotavirus DNA transcription unit (i.e., an isolated nucleotide sequence encoding a rotavirus protein or polypeptide). The nucleotide sequence is operably linked to transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences for expression of the rotavirus polypeptide in a cell of a vertebrate. Preferably the rotavirus polypeptide encoded by the DNA vaccine of the invention is VP4, VP6, and/or VP7. Preferably, the nucleotide sequence encoding the rotavirus polypeptide is contained in a plasmid vector.

The DNA vaccines can be administered to mammals such as pigs or humans susceptible to rotavirus infection and rotavirus-caused disease.

The DNA vaccines of the invention are preferably contained in a physiologically acceptable carrier for in vivo administration to a cell of a vertebrate. Administration of the DNA vaccines of the invention provide an immune response or protective immunity in the vertebrate to disease caused by rotavirus infection. Protective immunity is homologous, homotypic, heterotypic, or heterotypic.

As used herein, the term "homotypic," referring to viral protection or viral challenge, means that the inoculating antigen and the challenge antigen are derived from the same viral serotype.

As used herein, the term "heterotypic," referring to viral protection or viral challenge, means that the inoculating antigen and the challenge antigen are derived from different viral serotypes.

As used herein, the term "homologous," referring to viral protection or viral challenge, means that the inoculating antigen and the challenge antigen are derived from rotaviruses having the same species specificity.

As used herein, the term "heterologous," referring to viral protection or viral challenge, means that the inoculating antigen and the challenge antigen are derived from rotaviruses having different species specificity.

The invention also features a method of providing an immune response and protective immunity to a vertebrate against an infectious rotavirus. The method includes administering to a cell of a vertebrate a DNA transcription unit encoding a desired rotavirus antigen operably linked to a promoter sequence. Expression of the DNA transcription unit in the cell elicits a humoral immune response, a cell-mediated immune response, or both against the infectious rotavirus.

The promoter operably linked to the DNA transcription unit is of nonretroviral or retroviral origin. Preferably the promoter is the cytomegalovirus immediate-early enhancer promoter. The desired rotavirus antigen encoded by the DNA transcription unit is VP4, VP6, and/or VP7.

Protective immunity provided by administration of the DNA transcription unit of the invention is homologous, homotypic, heterotypic, or heterologous. The infectious rotavirus can be of the same strain or the same serotype as the rotavirus from which the DNA encoding a desired antigen is obtained. Alternatively, the infectious rotavirus can be of a different strain, a different serotype, or different species specificity as the rotavirus from which the DNA encoding a desired antigen is obtained.

The method of providing an immune response and protective immunity is practiced on a vertebrate, preferably a mammal such as a pig or other animal. The vertebrate can also be a human susceptible to infection by rotavirus and susceptible to disease caused by rotavirus. The human may be an infant less than 3 years of age, human caring for an infected infant, or an immunocompromised human of any age.

The DNA transcription unit of the method of the invention is preferably contained in a physiologically acceptable carrier and is administered to the vertebrate by routes including, but not limited to, inhalation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intradermal, and subcutaneous administration. The DNA transcription unit in a physiologically acceptable carrier can also be administered by being contacted with a mucosal surface of the vertebrate.

Preferably, administration is performed by particle bombardment using gold beads coated with the DNA transcription units of the invention. Preferably, the gold beads are 1 μm to 2 μm in diameter. The coated beads are preferably administered intradermally, intramuscularly, by organ transfection, or by other routes useful in particle bombardment and known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The term "immune response" refers herein to a cytotoxic T cells response or increased serum levels of antibodies to an antigen, or to the presence of neutralizing antibodies to an antigen, such as a rotavirus protein. The term "protection" or "protective immunity" refers herein to the ability of the serum antibodies and cytotoxic T cell response induced during immunization to protect (partially or totally) against disease caused by an infectious agent, such as a rotavirus. That is, a vertebrate immunized by the DNA vaccines of the invention will experience limited growth and spread of an infectious rotavirus.

The term "promoter sequence" herein refers to a minimal sequence sufficient to direct transcription. Also included in the invention is an enhancer sequence which may or may not be contiguous with the promoter sequence. Enhancer sequences influence promoter-dependent gene expression and may be located in the 5' or 3' regions of the native gene. Expression is constitutive or inducible by external signals or agents. Optionally, expression is cell-type specific, tissue-specific, or species specific.

By the term "transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences" is meant nucleotide sequences positioned adjacent to a DNA coding sequence which direct transcription or translation of a coding sequence (i.e. facilitate the production of, e.g., VP4, VP6, or VP7 protein). The regulatory nucleotide sequences include any sequences which promote sufficient expression of a desired coding sequence (such as VP4, VP6, or VP7) and presentation of the protein product to the inoculated animal's immune system such that protective immunity is provided.

By the term "operably linked to transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences" is meant that a polypeptide coding sequence and minimal transcriptional and translational controlling sequences are connected in such a way as to permit polypeptide expression when the appropriate molecules (e.g., transcriptional activator proteins) are bound to the regulatory sequence(s). In the present invention, polypeptide expression in a target vertebrate cell is particularly preferred.

The term "isolated DNA" means DNA that is free of the genes and other nucleotide sequences that flank the gene in the naturally-occurring genome of the organism from which the isolated DNA of the invention is derived. The term therefore includes, for example, a recombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector; into an autonomously replicating plasmid or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote; or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g., a cDNA or a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease digestion) independent of other sequences. It also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequences.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of control plasmid pCMV, a bacterial plasmid comprising a replication competent retroviral vector. The plasmid includes the CMV (cytomegalovirus) promoter/enhancer element and the rat preproinsulin gene.

FIG. 1B is a schematic representation of a plasmid referred to as the "pCMV/VP7 plasmid," which comprises a pCMV control plasmid and a rotavirus antigen DNA transcription unit encoding VP7 protein.

FIG. 2 is a bar graph depicting the cytotoxic T cell response of mice inoculated by gene gun with EDIM (Epizootic Diarrhea In Mice) VP7 rotavirus cDNA in comparison with controls. Solid bars represent an effector cell to target cell ratio of 60:1, and striped bars represent an effector cell to target cell ratio of 30:1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the pJW4303 plasmid comprising the CMV intron A, a leader sequence for the tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) protein, and bovine growth hormone polyadenylation sequences.

FIG. 4A is a schematic representation of control plasmid pCMVIA, a bacterial plasmid that includes the SV40 replication origin, the CMV immediate-early promoter/enhancer element, Intron A (the largest CMV intron), and a bovine growth hormone (BGH) gene that provides a polyadenylation signal. TPA is optionally removed for cloning purposes.

FIG. 4B is a schematic representation of the pCMVIA/VP7 plasmid, which includes the pCMVIA control plasmid and a rotavirus antigen DNA transcription unit encoding VP7 protein.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing protection against EDIM rotavirus challenge in immunized BALB/c mice. Mice were inoculated with pCMVIA/VP7, control plasmid pCMVIA, or had been infected with EDIM virus one month prior to challenge.

FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing the serum antibody responses to EDIM rotavirus in mice inoculated with the rotavirus itself, DNA vaccine pCMVIA/VP4, or control pCMVIA.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the specificity of cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses in pCMVIA/VP4-immunized BALB/c mice. Target cells (P815 cells) were infected with EDIM virus or coated with VP4 peptides at a concentration of 30 μM/3×10⁶ cells or 3 μM/3×10⁶ cells. The control cells were untreated P815 cells.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing protection against EDIM rotavirus challenge in immunized BALB/c mice. Mice were inoculated with pCMVIA/VP4, with control plasmid pCMVIA, or had been infected with EDIM virus one month prior to challenge.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing protection against EDIM rotavirus challenge in immunized BALB/c mice. Mice were inoculated with pCMVIA/VP6, control plasmid pCMVIA, or had been infected with EDIM virus one month prior to challenge.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the specificity of CTL responses in pCMV/VP7 immunized BALB/c mice. Target cells (P815 cells) were infected with EDIM virus (solid squares); HSVI encoding SA11 rotavirus VP7 (open circles); or control HSVI (solid circles). The cell controls were untreated P815 cells (solid triangles).

FIG. 11 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) encoding a murine strain EW rotavirus VP4 protein.

FIG. 12 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) encoding a human rotavirus VP4 protein.

FIG. 13 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) encoding a human rotavirus VP6 protein.

FIG. 14 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) encoding a bovine rotavirus VP6 protein.

FIG. 15 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) encoding a murine strain EW VP7 protein.

FIG. 16 is a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) encoding a human rotavirus VP7 protein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a method of providing protective immunity to vertebrates, including humans, against rotavirus infection or disease caused by a rotavirus infection. Protective immunity of the invention elicits humoral and/or cell-mediated immune responses which interfere with the infectivity or activity of the rotavirus, or which limit its spread or growth, resulting in protection against subsequent challenge by the rotavirus. According to the present invention, a DNA transcription unit is administered to an individual in whom immunization and protection is desired.

DNA Transcription Units

A DNA transcription unit is a polynucleotide sequence, bounded by an initiation site and a termination site, that is transcribed to produce a primary transcript. As used herein, a "DNA transcription unit" includes at least two components: (1) antigen-encoding DNA, and (2) a transcriptional promoter element or elements operatively linked for expression of the antigen-encoding DNA. Antigen-encoding DNA can encode one or multiple antigens, such as antigens from two or more different rotavirus proteins. The DNA transcription unit can additionally be inserted into a vector which includes sequences for expression of the DNA transcription unit.

A DNA transcription unit can optionally include additional sequences such as enhancer elements, splicing signals, termination and polyadenylation signals, viral replicons, and bacterial plasmid sequences. In the present method, a DNA transcription unit (i.e., one type of transcription unit) can be administered individually or in combination with one or more other types of DNA transcription units.

DNA transcription units can be produced by a number of known methods. For example, DNA encoding the desired antigen can be inserted into an expression vector (see, for example, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989)). With the availability of automated nucleic acid synthesis equipment, DNA can be synthesized directly when the nucleotide sequence is known, or by a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, and fermentation. Moreover, when the sequence of the desired polypeptide is known, a suitable coding sequence for the polynucleotide can be inferred.

The DNA transcription unit can be administered to an individual, or inoculated, in the presence of adjuvants or other substances that have the capability of promoting DNA uptake or recruiting immune system cells to the site of the inoculation. It should be understood that the DNA transcription unit itself is expressed in the host cell by transcription factors provided by the host cell, or provided by a DNA transcription unit.

The "desired antigen" can be any antigen or combination of antigens from a rotavirus. The antigen or antigens can be naturally occurring, or can be mutated or specially modified. The antigen or antigens can represent different forms, such as subgroups (clades), subtypes, or serotypes of rotavirus. These antigens may or may not be structural components of a rotavirus. The encoded antigens can be translation products or polypeptides. The polypeptides can be of various lengths, and can undergo normal host cell modifications such as glycosylation, myristoylation, or phosphorylation. In addition, they can be designated to undergo intracellular, extracellular, or cell-surface expression. Furthermore, they can be designed to undergo assembly and release from cells.

Potential pathogens for which the DNA transcription unit can be used include DNA encoding antigens derived from any serotype or strain of rotavirus. It is to be understood that this list does not include all potential pathogens against which a protective immune response can be generated according to the methods herein described.

Administration of DNA Transcription Units

An individual can be inoculated through any parenteral route. For example, an individual can be inoculated by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intradermal, subcutaneous, inhalation, or intramuscular routes, or by particle bombardment using a gene gun. Muscle is a useful site for the delivery and expression of DNA transcription unit-encoded polynucleotides, because animals have a proportionately large muscle mass which is conveniently accessed by direct injection through the skin. A comparatively large dose of polynucleotides can be deposited into muscle by multiple and/or repetitive injections, for example, to extend therapy over long periods of time. Muscle cells are injected with polynucleotides encoding immunogenic polypeptides, and these polypeptides are presented by muscle cells in the context of antigens of the major histocompatibility complex to provoke a selected immune response against the immunogen (see, e.g., Felgner, et al. WO90/11092, herein incorporated by reference).

The epidermis is another useful site for the delivery and expression of polynucleotides, because it is conveniently accessed by direct injection or particle bombardment. A comparatively large dose of polynucleotides can be deposited in the epidermis by multiple injections or bombardments to extend therapy over long periods of time. In immunization strategies of the invention, skin cells are injected with polynucleotides coding for immunogenic polypeptides, and these polypeptides are presented by skin cells in the context of antigens of the major histocompatibility complex to provoke a selected immune response against the immunogen.

In addition, an individual can be inoculated by a mucosal route. The DNA transcription unit can be administered to a mucosal surface by a variety of methods including DNA-containing nose-drops, inhalants, suppositories, microsphere encapsulated DNA, or by bombardment with DNA coated gold particles. For example, the DNA transcription unit can be administered to a respiratory mucosal surface, such as the nares or the trachea.

Any appropriate physiologically compatible medium, such as saline for injection, or gold particles for particle bombardment, is suitable for introducing the DNA transcription unit into an individual.

Immunization as described herein was accomplished with various DNA transcription units encoded on plasmid vectors that express different rotavirus proteins. The DNA transcription units described herein are representative of the types of transcription units that can be used in the current invention. The DNA transcription units can encode antigens from a single rotavirus species, including antigens from different subgroups (clades) or subtypes of the specie, and can additionally encode antigens from more than one rotavirus species.

Rotavirus DNA Transcription Units

In one embodiment of the current invention, immunization was accomplished using a DNA transcription unit encoding either of two murine rotavirus neutralizing capsid proteins, VP4 (SEQ ID NO:1; FIG. 11) or VP7 (SEQ ID NO:4; FIG. 15), or the internal core protein, VP6. DNA expression plasmids for the VP4, VP6, and VP7 protein were used to provide protection against challenge with an infectious rotavirus. An adult mouse model first described in Ward et al., J. Virol., 64:5070-5075 (1990) (incorporated herein by reference) was used to test for protection.

The adult mouse model is convenient in assessing protection against an infectious agent by increasing the time period within which to perform the study. In this model, adult BALB/c mice (6 weeks or older) inoculated with a rotavirus do not show disease symptoms but, instead, exhibit infection as viral shedding in the feces for approximately one week post-infection. Virus shedding in feces is conveniently measured and quantitated by ELISA. Studies involving quantitation of viral shedding in adult mice is preferred over studies in which disease symptoms are observed in infant mice because the latter studies are hindered by the short period in which infant mice are susceptible to rotavirus illness (from birth to 15 days of age).

In the systemic strategies presented herein, an effective DNA dosage will generally be in the range of about 1 μg/kg to about 50 μg/kg, preferably about 10-25 μg/kg of body weight of the animal. However, as will be appreciated, this dosage will vary in a manner apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art according to the particular DNA used, the particular polypeptide encoded by the DNA, and the vertebrate being inoculated. For delivery of VP4, VP6, or VP7 to a vertebrate, such as a mouse, for example, adequate levels of translation are achieved with a DNA dosage of about 20 μg/kg of mouse body weight (see Example 3). From this information, dosages for other immunogenic polypeptides and other vertebrates, such as a pig or human, can be readily determined.

The following Examples describe vaccination trials using direct DNA inoculations designed for use in rotavirus immunoprotection. Vaccination trials for rotavirus were conducted using an adult mouse model. The adult mouse model demonstrated antibody and cytotoxic T-cell activity in animals inoculated with DNA transcriptional units for rotavirus protein, wherein animals inoculated with control DNA exhibited no antibody or cytotoxic T-cell activity for rotavirus. Protective immunity was also observed when the adult mice immunized with the DNA vaccine of the invention were subsequently challenged with rotavirus.

The current invention is illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed as limiting in any way.

EXAMPLES Example 1

DNA Constructs for Immunization of Mice Using a DNA Transcription Unit Encoding a Rotavirus Protein

A plasmid construct referred to as pCMV/VP7 places cDNA for murine rotavirus capsid protein, VP7 (SEQ ID NO:4), under the transcriptional control of the human CMV (cytomegalovirus) immediate-early enhancer/promoter element and the rat preproinsulin II gene. The pCMV plasmid without a rotaviral insert is a derivative of the pBC12/CMV plasmid of Dr. Bryan Cullen, Duke University, Durham, N.C. as described in Cullen, B. R., Cell 45:973-982 (1986).

The pCMV/VP7 plasmid expresses VP7, a murine rotavirus neutralization capsid protein. VP7 cDNA (SEQ ID NO:4) from EDIM EW strain murine rotavirus was obtained from Dr. Harry Greenberg, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., USA (Dunn, S. J. et al. (1994) Virology 203:250-269; and can be obtained using standard techniques based on the complete sequence disclosed herein (SEQ ID NO:4) and in GenBank accession number U08430). For the purpose of the experiments described herein, murine VP7 cDNA (SEQ ID NO:4) was inserted between the BamHI and HindIII sites of the pCMV/control vector in an orientation for expression of the VP7 coding sequence. Another source of VP7 coding sequence is from porcine rotavirus VP7 (Gorziglia, M. et al. (1988) Nucl. Acids Res. 16:775).

Example 2

Immunizations by Intradermal Particle Bombardment Delivery of DNA to Mice

Intradermal administration of DNA by particle bombardment was used to deliver DNA for expression of a rotavirus gene in skin cells. The Accell particle bombardment device ("gene gun"; Agracetus, Middleton, Wis.) was employed to deliver DNA-coated gold beads to the epidermis of mice.

Plasmid DNA was affixed to gold particles by adding 10 mg of 0.95 μm gold powder (Degussa, South Plainfield, N.J.), and an appropriate amount of plasmid DNA, to a 1.5-ml centrifuge tube containing 50 μl of 0.1M spermidine. Plasmid DNA and gold were co-precipitated by the addition of 50 μl of 2.5M CaCl₂ during vortex mixing, after which the precipitate was allowed to settle and was washed with absolute ethanol and resuspended in 2.0 ml of ethanol. The gold/DNA suspension was transferred to a capped vial and immersed in a sonicating water bath for 2-5 seconds to resolve clumps. The 163 μl of the gold/DNA suspension was layered onto 1.8 cm×1.8 cm Mylar sheets and allowed to settle for several minutes after which the meniscus was broken and excess ethanol was removed by aspiration. Gold/DNA-coated mylar sheets were dried and stored under vacuum. The total amount of DNA per sheet was a function of the DNA/gold ratio and ranged from 0.2 to 0.0002 μg per sheet.

Animals were anesthetized with 30 μl of Ketaset/Rompun (10:2). Abdominal target areas were shaved and treated with Nair (Carter-Wallace, New York) for two minutes to remove residual stubble and stratum corneum. Target areas were thoroughly rinsed with water prior to gene delivery. DNA-coated gold particles were delivered into abdominal skin with the Accell instrument, which employs an electric spark discharge as the motive force. Each animal received two nonoverlapping deliveries per immunization, at a discharge voltage of 17 kV. Particle bombardment technology is presented in the following articles, herein incorporated by reference: Yang, M. S. et al., (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:9568-9572; Yang N.-S. (1992) CRC Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 12:335-356; and Cheng, L. et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4455-4459.

The beads deliver DNA into cells, where the DNA dissolves and can be expressed (Yang, M. S. et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 2726-2730). Expression is transient, with most of the expression being lost within 2-3 days due to the normal sloughing of the epidermis (Williams, R. S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2726-2730 (1991)).

These particle bombardment techniques can be easily adapted for use in human patients using human rotavirus DNA vaccines as described below.

Example 3

Inducing an Immune Response in Mice Using the pCMV/VP7 Plasmid

A rotavirus DNA transcription unit was tested for its ability to induce an immune response in mice. The pCMV/VP7 plasmid and the control plasmid used in this experiment to vaccinate mice against rotavirus are depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The DNA vaccine pCMV/VP7 construct was inoculated into BALB/c (H-2^(d)) mice by gene gun delivery of DNA-coated gold beads into the epidermis as described above. The dose given was 0.4 μg of DNA per mouse. This dose was previously determined to be optimal for DNA vaccination against influenza virus in mice (Fynan, E. F. et al. (1993) PNAS USA 90:11478-11482). Two inoculations were given at 4-week intervals. The boosts used the same DNA dose and sites of inoculation as the vaccinations. Mice were tested for serum antibody levels and CTL responses 2 to 4 weeks after the second inoculation.

Serum antibody levels were determined by ELISA against EDIM rotavirus (Epizootic Diarrhea In Mice) for mice receiving EDIM strain EW virus VP7 DNA (as pCMV/VP7) or control DNA (as pCMV). Six mice were tested per group. The neutralization assay was performed as described in Dunn, S. J. et al. (1994), supra. The EDIM strain EW virus was obtained from H. B. Greenberg, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., USA. Age-matched mice were inoculated with pCMV/VP7 DNA or pCMV/control DNA using the gene gun as described above or were administered live EDIM virus by oral gavage at a dosage of 100 ID₅₀ /mouse. The relative antibody production in adult mice following inoculation of the DNA vaccine and a live virus are compared in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Serum Anti-VP7 Antibody Titers Following Inoculation                           [Mean Antibody Titer].sup.-1                                                          Preinoculation                                                                               4 weeks Postinoculation                                   Inoculum ELISA   Neutralization                                                                             ELISA Neutralization                              ______________________________________                                         pCMV/VP7 <50     <50          400   100                                        pCMV/con-                                                                               <50     <50         <50   <50                                         trol                                                                           EDIM virus                                                                              <50     <50          800   200                                        ______________________________________                                    

The results in Table 1 show that serum antibody to EDIM virus developed only in mice receiving the plasmid containing the wild-type VP7 coding sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) or live EDIM virus. The titers obtained in sera taken at one month after the second DNA inoculation were 1:200 in mice receiving pCMV/VP7 and 1:800 in mice inoculated with EDIM virus. Antibody titers remained below 1:50 in mice inoculated with the control DNA.

It was also found that plasmid pCMV/VP7 was able to induce a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response against murine rotavirus-infected cells. Cellular immune response was determined by measuring CTL activity in adult mice which were vaccinated with pCMV/VP7 or were given EDIM virus, as was done for the induction of serum antibodies in Example 2. Memory CTL activity was measured after in vitro stimulation. Splenic lymphocytes from DNA-treated or EDIM-infected mice were stimulated in vivo with EDIM virus. The activity of these effector lymphocytes was measured by a standard chromium-release CTL assay. EDIM-infected P815 (H-2^(d)) cells were used as target cells (P815 (H-2^(d)) cells may be obtained from ATCC as TIB 64). Separate experiments were performed in which effector cell to target cell (E:T) ratios were 60:1 (filled bars) or 30:1 (striped bars) as shown in FIG. 2. The results using the two different E:T ratios indicate that increasing the number of total cells increases the number of effector cells contacted with the target cells in the CTL chromium-release assay. Thus, the 60:1 E:T experiment shows increased response relative to the 30:1 E:T ratio.

The memory CTL activity of mice inoculated with pCMV/VP7 was approximately 30% at an effector to target ratio of 60:1, compared to 45% lysis obtained with mice orally infected with EDIM rotavirus indicating an effective response to both the DNA vaccine and the EDIM virus. The low level of activity seen with the control DNA may be due to non-specific stimulation of natural killer cells by the plasmid vector. There was minimal lysis of uninfected target cells by the effector cells.

Example 4

Protective Immunity Against Homotypic Rotavirus Challenge Induced by Inoculation with the pCMVIA/VP7 Plasmid

Initial experiments in mice inoculated with pCMV/VP7 did not show protection when challenged with EDIM virus strains EW at a concentration of 10² adult ID₅₀ /ml, even though the vaccine induced an immune response as determined by the presence of neutralizing serum antibody and CTL responses.

Surprisingly, protection by VP7 against homotypic rotavirus challenge as well as induction of antibody response was shown using a different plasmid vector, JW4303 shown in FIG. 3 (Dr. J. Mullins, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. USA). The vector encodes a CMV promoter/enhancer element and also encodes intron A upstream of the rotavirus cDNA site of insertion. The presence of intron A (IA) positively regulates expression of the insert cDNA from the CMV immediate-early promoter/enhancer element in mammalian cell lines (Chapman, B. S., et al. (1991) Nucleic Acids Research 19:3979-3986). FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the control plasmid (pCMVIA) and the plasmid containing a VP7 (SEQ ID NO:4) insert (pCMVIA/VP7). The bovine growth hormone (BGH) gene sequence provides polyadenylation signals necessary for expression.

The ability of the pCMVIA/VP7 DNA vaccine to provide protective immunity against homotypic virus challenge was demonstrated in the adult mouse model. Protection is determined by the quantitation of virus shedding in feces of inoculated mice following viral challenge.

The results in FIG. 5 show that mice which received the control plasmid pCMVIA showed no protection against challenge virus (filled circles). Mice which received the pCMVIA/VP7 DNA vaccine (open circles; two inoculations at a 4 week interval) showed homotypic protection at 4 weeks following the second inoculation. This result is similar to that obtained in mice which had received a single oral inoculation with EDIM virus 4 weeks prior to analysis (open squares).

Example 5

Protective Immunity Against Homotypic Rotavirus Challenge Induced by Inoculation with the pCMVIA/VP4 DNA Vaccine

The cDNA of murine strain EW rotavirus VP4 (SEQ ID NO:1; Dunn, S. J. et al. (1994) Virology 203:250-269; GenBank accession number U08429) was inserted into the pCMVIA plasmid between the BamHI and HindIII sites in the orientation for expression of the VP4 gene under the control of the CMV immediate-early promoter/enhancer element and the intron A sequence. Other sources of VP4 coding sequence include human rotavirus VP4 (Taniguchi, K. et al. (1988) J. Virol. 62:2421-2426; GenBank accession number M21014; FIG. 12; SEQ ID NO:5) and porcine rotavirus VP4 (Nishikawa, K. and Gorziglia, M. (1988) Nucl. Acids Res. 16:11847; GenBank accession number X13190).

BALB/c (H-2^(d)) adult mice were inoculated with 0.4 μg of pCMVIA/VP4 DNA by gene gun delivery into the epidermis as was performed for the VP7 experiments above. For comparison, mice were inoculated with control plasmid vector or with live EDIM virus. Inoculated mice were tested for anti-VP4 antibodies in serum by the ELISA assay and rotavirus neutralizing antibodies in serum at 4 weeks following the second inoculation of plasmid or virus. The results shown in FIG. 6 indicate that EDIM virus and the pCMVIA/VP4 plasmid stimulated antibody responses, whereas no rotavirus-specific responses were seen in the mice inoculated with the plasmid control.

Cellular immune response was tested by examining memory CTL activity of splenic lymphocytes from pCMVIA/VP4 immunized mice. To test for VP4 specificity, P815 target cells were passively coated by incubation with VP4 peptides. The VP4 peptides were synthesized from a sequence published in Shimojo, N. et al. (1989) J. Immunol. 143:2939-2947, and prepared by the peptide synthesis facility at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center using standard synthetic techniques. The results of these assays are shown in FIG. 7. CTL activity of lymphocytes (effector cells) from mice inoculated with pCMVIA/VP4 was measured. The target cells were uninfected P815 target cells (open triangles), P815 target cells infected with EDIM virus (solid diamonds) or coated with VP4 peptide (at a concentration of 30 μM/3×10⁶ cells (solid circles) or 3 μM/3×10⁶ cells (open circles). The results show that inoculation of mice by DNA vaccine pCMVIA/VP4 produced cytotoxic activity against target cells infected with EDIM virus or coated with VP4 protein (at 30 μM VP4/3×10⁶ cell). There was essentially no cytotoxic activity against P815 control cells and cells coated with VP4 protein at 3 μM VP4/3×10⁶ cells. Providing another positive control, lymphocytes from mice infected with EDIM virus were found to exhibit CTL responses to the VP4-coated cells (data not shown).

The ability of the pCMVIA/VP4 DNA vaccine to provide protection against homotypic rotavirus challenge was demonstrated in adult mice by the same procedure as for VP7 in Example 4. The results showing the protective immunity against homotypic rotavirus infection induced by VP4 are shown in FIG. 8. Protection is measured by a reduction in virus shedding monitored by ELISA to be less than 0.1 A₄₉₂ units. Both the pCMVIA/VP4 DNA vaccine (open circles) and the live EDIM virus (open squares) provided protection against EDIM viral challenge as indicated by mean A₄₉₂ values less than 0.1 for 14 days post challenge. However, the pCMVIA control plasmid (filled circles) did not provide protection as indicated by A₄₉₂ values greater than 0.1 from 1 to 7 days post challenge.

Example 6

Protective Immunity Against Homotypic Rotavirus Challenge Induced by Inoculation with the pCMVIA/VP6 DNA Vaccine

The cDNA of murine EDIM strain EW rotavirus VP6 cDNA (obtained from H. Greenberg, Stanford University, supra) was inserted into the pCMVIA plasmid between the BamHI and the HindIII in the orientation for expression of the VP6 gene under the control of the CMV immediate-early promoter/enhancer element and the intron A sequence. The cDNA encoding murine rotavirus VP6 coding sequence can be isolated by deriving probes and/or PCR primers from any of the following nucleotide sequences as well as other rotavirus VP6 sequences: human rotavirus VP6 (SEQ ID NO:2, Palombo, E. A. and Bishop, R. F. (1993), GenBank accession number U04741; FIG. 13); bovine rotavirus VP6 (SEQ ID NO:3, FIG. 14; Tarlow, O. and McCrae, M. A. (1990) Nucl. Acids Res. 18:4921). Techniques for such isolation and/or PCR amplification are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see e.g., Sambrook, J. et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (1989))

A pCMVIA plasmid containing a murine rotavirus gene encoding VP6, the internal rotavirus group antigen, demonstrated protective immunity against EDIM viral challenge using the same procedure used to test VP7 and VP4. A graph of pCMVIA/VP6-induced protective immunity to homotypic rotavirus challenge is shown in FIG. 9. Protection is measured by a reduction in virus shedding monitored by ELISA to be less than 0.1 A₄₉₂ units. Both the pCMVIA/VP6 DNA vaccine (open circles) and the live EDIM virus (open squares) provided protection against EDIM viral challenge as indicated by mean A₄₉₂ values less than 0.1 for 14 days post challenge. However, the pCMVIA control plasmid (filled circles) did not provide protection as indicated by A₄₉₂ values greater than 0.1 from 1 to 7 days post challenge. Thus, a similar degree of protection was obtained with the pCMVIA/VP6 DNA vaccine as seen for the VP4 and VP7 DNA vaccines.

This was a surprising result because the pCMVIA/VP6 construct did not elicit neutralizing antibodies and because protection by VP6 administration had not previously been shown. On the contrary, direct inoculation of VP6 had been shown not to be involved in protective immunity to EDIM challenge despite the apparent induction of antibody titers (Dormitzer, P. et al. Audio Tape (Aug. 10, 1993) IXth Intl. Congress of Virology, Workshop W21; Estes, M. K. and Cohen, J. (1989), Microbiol. Rev. 53:410-449; and Riepenhoff-Talty, M. et al. (1987) Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 216B:1015-1023). Previously, both a VP6 and a recombinant VP7 (VP7_(SC)) encoded in a vaccinia virus or adenovirus vector did not elicit protective immunity (Audio Tape, Dormitzer, P. et al. (Aug. 10, 1993) IXth Intl. Congress of Virology, Workshop W21). The VP6 protein, expressed from pCMVIA/VP6 in a vertebrate cell, is shown for the first time to induce protective immunity to a rotavirus challenge even though no neutralizing antibodies were elicited. In fact, a DNA vaccine of the invention encoding a wild type inner core VP6 protein offers similar protection to the DNA vaccines encoding the outer capsid proteins VP4 or VP7 as described herein.

Example 7

Heterologous Immune Response Induced by pCMV/VP7 DNA Vaccine

The ability of EDIM strain EW-derived VP7 DNA vaccine to elicit an immune response to VP7 from rotaviruses of the same (homologous) or different (heterologous) species specificities was demonstrated. Target cells infected with EDIM strain EW virus (homologous test) or with herpes simplex virus (HSV) encoding simian (SA-11) rotavirus VP7 (Dormitzer, P. R. et al. (1994) Virology 204:391-402) (heterologous test) were tested for lysis by effector cells from mice inoculated with EDIM virus or with pCMV/VP7 DNA vaccine. The results are shown in FIG. 10. Lymphocytes from mice which had been inoculated with pCMV/VP7 showed CTL activity against P815 target cells infected with HSV expressing rotavirus strain SA-11 VP7 (open circles) as well as target cells infected with EDIM virus (closed squares). The percent specific lysis of target cells infected with EDIM virus or HSVI/SA-11 was approximately 35% and 20%, respectively, using effector cells from the pCMV/VP7 immunized mice at an E:T ratio of 60:1. Low background levels of CTL activity was observed against control P815 cells and P815 cells infected with HSV without a rotavirus encoded protein. Induction of CTL activity by pCMV/VP7 shows that the VP7 protein of one rotavirus serotype A strain can induce an immune response against the VP7 protein of another rotavirus serotype A strain.

Example 8

Heterotypic and Heterologous Protective Immunity Induced by pCMVIA/VP4, pCMVIA/VP6, and pCMVIA/VP7

Heterotypic protection by VP4, VP6, and VP7 is demonstrated by inoculating mice with a pCMVIA/VP4, pCMVIA/VP6, or pCMVIA/VP7 DNA vaccine by the procedure described in the examples above. Each of these DNA vaccines encodes a rotavirus protein derived from EDIM strain EW rotavirus. Following inoculation, the mice are challenged with a rotavirus strain which is heterologous or heterotypic relative to the rotavirus from which the VP4, VP6, or VP7 cDNA was derived.

Heterologous challenge is demonstrated by inoculating the mice with a DNA vaccine encoding VP4, VP6, or VP7 from a non-murine source (e.g., simian SA-11 or other non-murine rotavirus VP4, VP6, or VP7) followed by challenge with murine rotavirus by the procedures described in previous examples.

Following challenge, viral shedding is quantitated by ELISA and heterotypic protection is determined to be an ELISA value lower than 0.1 A₄₉₂ units. Control inoculation and homotypic challenge is performed in parallel to compare the relative degrees of protection.

The information gained by using an adult mouse model to assess vaccine effectiveness (as reduction in virus shedding) is a useful measure of effectiveness in larger vertebrates (Ward, R. L. et al. (1990) J. Virol. 64.:5070-5075). Chronic viral shedding by adult cattle and swine is a reservoir for persistence of rotavirus between epidemics (Goto, Y. et al. (1986) Vet. Microbiol. 11:177-184; and Banfield, D. A. et al. (1982) J. Clin. Microbiol. 16:186-190) and is said to be true for humans (Offit, P. A. (1995) supra).

Example 9

A. Method of Providing Protective Immunity Against Rotavirus in Swine

To provide protection against rotavirus infection in swine, a DNA vaccine encoding a porcine rotavirus protein is constructed. cDNA from a porcine rotavirus VP4 (Nishikawa and Gorziglia (1988), supra; GenBank accession number X13190), VP6 (Gonzalez, S.A. et al. (1995) J. Gen. Virol. 76:221-224), or VP7 (Gorziglia et al. (1988), supra; GenBank accession number X04613) is inserted in the pCMVIA plasmid as for the murine DNA vaccine constructs described above. Optionally, heterologous protection can be provided by administering a vaccine constructed using VP4, VP6, or VP7 from a rotavirus of different species specificity.

The DNA vaccine is administered to the animal by several routes selected from the following: intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intradermal, inhalation, and subcutaneous administration. For example, intradermal administration by particle bombardment is a preferred route. The site of administration is chosen for the convenience of the administrator. Suckling pigs are inoculated by intradermal particle bombardment delivery of gold beads coated with the pCMVIA plasmid vector containing VP4, VP6, or VP7 cDNA from porcine or other species-specific rotavirus strains. The dose is between 1 and 50 μg of DNA vaccine per kg body weight of the pig, preferably 10-25 μg per kg body weight. Inoculations are given at 4 week intervals until the animal is provided with long term cellular immune response.

Protection is determined by challenging the inoculated pigs with porcine rotavirus from the same serotype and the same or different strain. Virus shedding is monitored by standard techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art and disease symptoms such as diarrhea are monitored relative to an uninoculated pig.

Example 10

A Method of Providing Protective Immunity Against Rotavirus in Humans

Rotavirus serogroups A, B, and C are known to cause severe gastroenteritis in humans. Human infants (from 6 to 24 months of age), adults parenting infected infants, elderly humans, and immunocompromised humans of any age are susceptible to developing disease upon infection with rotavirus. To provide protection in humans against rotavirus infection, a DNA vaccine encoding a human rotavirus protein is constructed. cDNA from the human rotavirus VP4 (Taniguchi, (1988), supra; GenBank accession number M21014; FIG. 12), VP6 (SEQ ID NO:2; FIG. 13), or VP7 (Dyall-Smith, M. L., WO 8901514-A; GenBank accession number A01321; FIG. 16; SEQ ID NO:6) is inserted in the pCMVIA plasmid as for the murine DNA vaccine constructs described above. Optionally, heterologous protection can be provided by administering a vaccine constructed using VP4, VP6, or VP7 from a rotavirus of different species specificity.

Administration of a DNA vaccine to a human can be performed by any one or more of several routes selected from the following: intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intradermal, inhalation, and subcutaneous. For example, intradermal administration by gene gun is a preferred route. The site of administration is chosen for the convenience of the patient. A human patient is inoculated with the human rotavirus-derived pCMVIA/VP4, pCMVIA/VP6, or pCMVIA/VP7 DNA vaccine by gene gun delivery of DNA-coated gold beads. The dose is between 1 and 50 μg of DNA vaccine per kg body weight, preferably 10-25 μg per kg body weight. For a human infant, two inoculations are given at a 4 week interval. A human of any age who is caring for an infected infant or is immunocompromised due to illness, drug treatment, or other cause putting him or her at risk of rotavirus infection is inoculated with the DNA vaccine by gene gun delivery for at least 2 inoculations at 4 week intervals.

Mucosal routes of DNA inoculation involve the administration of microsphere-encapsulated DNA to raise protective responses against a rotavirus challenge. pCMVIA/VP4, pCMVIA/VP6, or pCMVIA/VP7 DNA can be encapsulated in microspheres. Each patient receives a primary inoculation and a boost. The patients receive approximately 1-50 μg/kg body weight of microsphere-encapsulated DNA for both the primary and boost inoculations. Each administration of encapsulated DNA is delivered in 100 μl of water intranasally.

Use

Rotavirus disease in human infants and adults occurs worldwide and is responsible for the hospitalization and even the death of many patients. Disease caused by rotavirus in animals, such as pigs, results in significant losses in agricultural revenue each year. Thus, a safe, effective vaccine that protects against infection by rotavirus is important in both human and verterinary medicine.

A human rotavirus DNA vaccine of the invention is useful in providing protection against rotavirus infection in human infants, caretakers of infected infants, and immunocompromised humans. A porcine DNA vaccine of the invention is useful to prevent rotavirus infection in piglets thereby allowing the animals to thrive for increased agricultural benefit. A DNA vaccine against any human or animal rotavirus can be constructed and used according to the invention. Such vaccines are useful in providing homologous protection against a specific strain of rotavirus. The DNA vaccine of the invention is also useful in providing heterologous protection in that a DNA vaccine derived from one species-specific rotavirus, serotype, or strain can be used to induce protective immunity against a rotavirus from a different species-specific rotavirus, serotype, or strain.

Broad protection against multiple strains within a given serotype is possible according to the invention by inoculating the human or animal with a DNA vaccine encoding a protection-inducing protein from a rotavirus strain of the same serotype. Thus, a single DNA vaccine of the invention is useful in providing protection against multiple strains of rotavirus (see Example 8, above).

The DNA vaccine of the invention is also useful for diagnosis of rotavirus infection. Virus particles from stool of the patient or infected animal are contacted with serum of an animal, such as a mouse, which has been inoculated with a known serotype, species-specific DNA vaccine of the invention. Viral neutralization by the serum antibodies or other type-specific assays informs the clinician as to the disease-causing rotavirus serotype.

Other Embodiments

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 6                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 2359 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Murine rotavirus VP4                                             (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                        GGCTATAAAATGGCTTCACTCATTTATAGACAACTGCTCACGAATTCCTTTACCGTACAT60                 ATATCTGATGAAATTGAAACTATTGGAGCAGAGAAGACACAAAATGTTACAGTGAATCCC120                GGTCCATTCGCGCAAACGGGATACGCCCCAGCAAACTGGGGGCCAGGCGAAACTAACGAC180                TCAACAACAGTAGAACCAATGCTTGATGGACCATACCAACCAATAGCGTTCAGTCCGCCG240                CCAGAGTACTATATCATCCTCTCCCCGACTGCACCCGGAGTAATCGCTGAATGTACGAAT300                ACTGTCAACCGCTGGATAGCAATCATAGCTATAGAGCCAAACGTGTCAACAACAAATCGT360                ACCTACACATTGTTCGGAATTACTGAACAGCTAACAGTAGAAAACAGCTCCGTGGATAAA420                TGGAAGTTTATAGACTTCATGAAAACTCCAACAACTGGCAGCTACGTCCGTTATAACATT480                TTGTTGTCTAGCACTAAGCTATGCGCAGTGGCGAACGACACGGACAATTTATACTCCTAT540                GTTGGAGAAACGCCTACTGCAGGTCAGGCATACTACTCTTCTTTCAATATATTTAACCTA600                ACCGCGCACTGTGACTTCTACATTATACCATGGTCGCAGCAATCGTTGTGCACGCAATAC660                GTTAATAACGGATTACCGCCGATCCAGAATACAAGAAATGTAGTGCCAAGACATCTGTCA720                GCGAGATCAATCATCACACAAAGAGCGCAACAGAATGAAGACATTGTTGTGTCAAAGACA780                TCCTTATGGAAAGAAATGCAGTTTAATAGGGACATAACAATACGTTTCAAATTCGCGAAT840                GCAATAATAAAGTCTGGCGGCTTGGGATATAATTGGTCAGAGATCTCTTTCAAACCAGCG900                AACTACCAATACACGTACACACGTGATGGTGAAGAAGTAACTGCGCATACTACGTGCTCG960                GTAAACGGTGTGAACAACTTCGATTTCTTTGGCGGTACGCTCCCTACGGATTTCGGTATT1020               TCGCGGTACGAAGTGATTAAGGAGAATTCATTCGTGTACATAGACTATTGGGACGACTCT1080               CAGGCTTTCAGAAATATGGTCTATGTGCGCTCACTAGCGGCTGATTTGAACACTGTCGAA1140               TGCACTGGGGGGGCGTACAGCTTTTCACTACCAGTTGGGCAATGGCCGGTGATGACGGGT1200               GGTGCAGTGTCTTTGCGAGCTGCCGGAGTTACACTATCTACACAGTTCACAGACTTCGTG1260               TCGCTAAATTCGTTGAGATTTAGGTTTCGTTTGTCAGTGGAAGAACCGTCATTCAGTATA1320               ACGAGAACAAGAGTGTCAGGGCTATACGGCTTGCCAGAGCGGGATCCTAACAACGGCAGA1380               GAATATTACGAAATTGCAGGTAGATTTTCGTTAATATCATTAGTGCCGTCCAACGATAAC1440               TATCAAACACCGATAATGAATTCAGTTACGGTGCGGCAAGATCTGGAGAGACAGCTAGGC1500               GAACTACGACGAGAATTCAACGCGCTGTCGCAGGAAATAGCGCTGTCACAGTTGGTGGAT1560               TTAGCGCTACTGCCATTAGATATGTTCTCAATGTTTTCAGGCATCAAAGCAACGCTCGAC1620               GTGGCAAAGTCAATGGCAACGAACGTGATGAAAAAATTCAAAAAATCGGGACTGGCCACG1680               TCGATTTCACGCATGACTGAGTCACTATCAGATGCAGCTTCCTCAGTGTCTCGGAGTGAG1740               CTGCATACGCTCAGTCAGTTCCACGTCATCAGCTTGGACAGACGTTTCGTAGCTGCTGTG1800               GCCAACGTGGAAAATGCCGCCTCAACAGTTTCAACACAGACGGCCACAATCAGCAGACGG1860               TTGAGACTGAAGGAAATCACAACGCAGACTGAAGGCATGAACTTCGATGACATCTCAGCC1920               GCTGTACTTAAAACTAAGCTTGATAAATCAGTACGAATCGCGCCGAACACGCTACCAGAC1980               ATAGTAACAGAAGCGTCAGAGAAGTTCATTCCGAACAGATCATACAGAGTTATAAACAAC2040               AATGAAGCATTCGAAACTGGAACTGACGGACGCTTCTTCGCATACCGAGTTGACACTCTT2100               GAGGAACTGCCATTCGACGTTCAGAAATTCGCATGCCATGCTGCAGAGTCCCCAGTAATC2160               TCAGCCATCACTGACTTCAAGACTTTGAAAAATTTGAACGATAACTACGGAATCTCGAAA2220               GAACAGGCCTTCAGTTTATTACGCTCAGATCCGCGAGTACTCCGTGAATTTATTAATCAG2280               GGGAATCCAATAATACGTAATAGAATAGAACAGTTAATTATGCAGTGTAGACTGTGAGCA2340               GTGTCTAGAGGATGTGACC2359                                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1356 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Human rotavirus VP6                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                        GGCTTTAAAACGAAGTCTTCGACATGGAGGTTCTGTATTCATTGTCAAAAACTCTTAAAG60                 ATGCTAGGGATAAGATTGTTGAAGGTACATTATATTCTAATGTTAGTGATCTCATTCAGC120                AATTTAATCAAATGATAGTAACCATGAATGGAAATGACTTTCAAACTGGAGGAATTGGCA180                ATTTACCTATTAGAAATTGGACATTTGACTTTGGTCTACTAGGTACTACGCTGTTAAACC240                TTGATGCTAATTACGTTGAGACTGCAAGAACTACAATTAAGTATTTTATTGACTTTATTG300                ATAATGTATGTATGGATGAAATGGCAAGAGAGTCTCAAAGAAATGGAGTAGCTCCACAAT360                CTGAGGCATTGAGGAAGCTAGCCGGTATTAAATTTAAAAGAATAAATTTTAATAATTCAT420                CAGAATATATAGAAAATTGGAATTTACAAAATAGAAGACAGCGTACCGGATTTGTTTTCC480                ATAAACCTAATATATTTCCATACTCAGCATCATTTACTTTAAATAGGTCTCAACCAATGC540                ATGACAATTTAATGGGAACCATGTGGCTTAACGCTGGATCAGAAATTCAAGTGGCTGGAT600                TTGACTACTCGTGTGCCCTAAATGCTCCAGCAAATATTCAGCAGTTTGAACATATTGTCC660                AGCTTAGGCGTGCGCTAACTACAGCTACTATAACTTTGCTACCTGATGCAGAAAGATTTA720                GTTTTCCAAGAGTTATTAATTCAGCAGATGGCGCAACCACATGGTTCTTTAATCCAATTA780                TCCTAAGACCAAACAATGTAGAGGTAGAATTTTTACTGAATGGACAAATTATTAATACAT840                ATCAAGCTAGATTTGGAACTATTATCGCAAGAAATTTTGATACAATTCGTCTATCATTCC900                AATTAATGCGTCCACCAAACATGACGCCAGCCGTAAATGCATTATTTCCGCAAGCACAAC960                CTTTTCAACATCATGCAACAGTTGGACTTACGTTACGTATTGAGTCTGCAGTTTGTGAAT1020               CAGTGCTTGCGGATGCAAATGAAACTTTATTGGCGAATGTTACTGCAGTACGTCAAGAGT1080               ATGCTATAGGCGTTGGACCAGTATTTCCACCAGGCATGAATTGGACTGAGCTGATTACTA1140               ACTATTCACCATCCAGGGAAGATAATTTGCAACGTGTCTTTACAGTAGCCTCTATCAGAA1200               GCATGTTAATTAAGTGAGGACCAGACTAACCATCTGGTATCCAATCTTAATTAGCATGTA1260               GCTATGTCAAGTCATTCAGACTCTACAAGTAAGGACATGATTTCATGTTCGCTACGTAGA1320               GTAACTGCATGAATGATCTAGTGAGAGGATGTGACC1356                                       (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1356 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Bovine rotavirus VP6                                             (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                        GGCTTTTAAACGAAGTCTTCAACATGGATGTCCTGTACTCCTTGTCAAAAACTCTTAAAG60                 ATGCTAGAGACAAAATTGTCGAAGGCACATTATACTCCAATGTAAGTGATCTAATTCAAC120                AATTTAATCAAATGATAATTACTATGAATGGAAATGAGTTCCAAACTGGAGGAATTGGTA180                ATCTACCGATTAGAAATTGGAATTTTGATTTTGGATTACTCGGAACAACTCTACTAAATT240                TGGATGCCAACTACGTCGAAACGGCCCGCAATACAATTGATTATTTTGTAGATTTTGTAG300                ATAATGTATGTATGGATGAAATGGTTAGAGAATCACAAAGAAATGGAATTGCACCACAAT360                CAGATTCACTTAGAAAGTTGTCAGGTATTAAATTCAAAAGAATAAATTTTGACAATTCAT420                CAGAATACATAGAGAACTGGAATTTGCAAAACAGAAGACAAAGAACGGGTTTTACATTTC480                ATAAACCAAACATTTTCCCTTACTCAGCGTCATTCACACTGAACAGATCACAACCAGCTC540                ATGATAACTTGATGGGTACGATGTGGCTCAATGCGGGATCAGAAATTCAGGTCGCTGGAT600                TCGATTATTCATGTGCAATCAATGCGCCAGCCAATACACAACAATTTGAGCATATTGTAC660                AGCTCCGAAGAGTGTTGACTACAGCTACAATAACTCTTTTACCAGATGCAGAAAGATTTA720                GTTTTCCAAGAGTGATTAATTCAGCTGACGGAGCTACTACATGGTACTTCAACCCAGTGA780                TTCTTAGACCAAATAACGTTGAAGTAGAGTTTCTACTAAACGGGCAGATAATAAATACTT840                ACCAAGCAAGATTTGGAACGATCATAGCTAGAAATTTTGATACAATTAGATTGTCATTTC900                AGTTGATGAGACCACCAAATATGACACCAGCGGTAGCGGCGTTATTTCCAAATGCGCAGC960                CATTTGAACATCAGGCAACAGTAGGACTCACGCTTAGAATTGAATCTGCAGTTTGTGAAT1020               CAGTGCTTGCCGACGCAAGTGAAACAATGCTAGCAAATGTGACATCTGTTAGACAAGAAT1080               ACGCGATACCAGTTGGACCAGTTTTTCCACCAGGTATGAATTGGACTGATTTGATCACTA1140               ACTATTCACCATCTAGAGAGGATAATTTGCAGCGTGTATTTACAGTGGCTTCCATTAGAA1200               GCATGCTTGTCAAATGAGGACCAAGCTAACCACTTGGTATCCGACTTTGGTGAGTATGTA1260               GCTACGTCAAGCTGTTTGAACTCTGTAAGTAAGGATGCGTCTACGTATTCGCTACACAGA1320               GTAATCACTCAGATGGCGTAGTGAGAGGATGTGACC1356                                       (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1061 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Murine rotavirus VP7                                             (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                        GGCTTTAAAAGAGAGAATTTCCGTTTGGCTAGCGGTTAGCTCCTTTTAATGTATGGTATT60                 GAATATACCACAGCTTTAACTTTCCTGATATCATTTCTTTTATTGCGCTACATACTAAAA120                TCAGTAGTTAAAATTATGGACTTTATAGTTTACAGGTTTTTGTTTGTAATTCTAATTTTG180                TCGCCATGTATTAAAGCTCAAAACTACGGCATTAATCTTCCAATTACTGGTTCAATGGAC240                ACTGCGTATGCAAACTCAACTCAACCGGAGACATTTCTGACTTCCACTCTATGCCTTTAC300                TATCCAACAGAAGCAGCTACTGAGATAAAGGATAACTCGTGGAAAGACACGTTATCGCAA360                CTATTCTTAACGAAAGGATGGCCAATAGGGTCAGTCTATTTTAAAGAATACACCGACATA420                GCAGCGTTCTCAATCGATCCACAACTATACTGTGATTACAACGTAGTGCTGATGAAATAT480                GACGCTTCATTACAAATGGATATGTCGGAACTTGCAGACTTGATACTGAATGAATGGCTT540                TGTAATCCAATGGACATCACGCTATACTACTACCAGCAAACAGACGAAGCGAACAAATGG600                ATCTCCATGGGCTCTTCATGTACCATCAGAGTATGTCCACTTAACACTCAGACACTGGGA660                ATAGGCTGTCTCACTACCGATGTTACGACCTTCGAAGAAATTGCGACTGCGGAGAAATTA720                GCGATAACGGACGTCGTAGATGGCGTGAGTCACAAGCTTAACGTTACAACCGCGACTTGT780                ACAATTCGTAACTGTAAGAAACTTGGTCCGCGAGAAAATGTAGCAGTTATACAAGTAGGT840                GGCTCTGACATAATAGACATAACTGCAGATCCAACAACTGCACCACAAACCGAGAGAATG900                ATGCGCATTAATTGGAAAAAATGGTGGCAAGTGTTCTACACCGTCGTTGATTATGTAAAT960                CAGATAATCTCAACAATGTCCAAACGATCTAGATCACTGAACTCAGCAGCTTTTTATTAT1020               AGAGTGTAGGTATAACTGAAGTTACAGCTGATGATGTGACC1061                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 2359 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Human rotavirus VP4                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                        GGCTATAAAATGGCTTCGCTCATTTATAGACAGCTTCTCACTAATTCATATTCAGTAGAT60                 TTACATGATGAAATAGAGCAAATTGGGTCAGAAAAAACTCAAAACGTAACTGTAAATCCA120                GGTCCATTTGCCCAAACTAGATATGCTCCAGTAAATTGGGGTCATGGAGAGATAAATGAT180                TCAACCACAGTAGAACCAATTTTAGATGGTCCTTATCAGCCTACTACATTTAAACCACTT240                ACTGATTATTGGATACTTATTAACTCAAATACAAATGGAGTGGTATACGAGAGTACGAAT300                AATAGTGACTTTTGGACTGCAGTAGTTGCTATTGAACCGCACGTTATCCAAGTAGATAGA360                CAATATACTGTATTTGGTGAAAATAAACAATTTAATGTAAGAAATGATTCAGATAAATGG420                AAGTTTTTAGAAATGTTTAGAGGCAGTAGTCAAAATGAATTTTATAATAGACGTACACTA480                ACTTCTGATACTAAACTCGTAGGAATATTAAAATATGGTGGAAGGATATGGACATTTCAT540                GGTGAAACACCGAGAGCTACTACTGATAGTTCAAATACTGCAAATTTAAACGATATATCA600                ATTATAATACATTCAGAATTTTATATTATCCCAAGGTCCCAAGAATCTAAGTGTAATGAA660                TATATTAACAATGGTTTGCCACCAATTCAAAATACTAGAAATGTAGTACCATTATCATTA720                TCATCTAGATCCATACAGTATAAAAGAGCACAAGTTAATGAAGATATTACAATTTCAAAA780                ACCTCATTATGGAAAGAAATGCAATGTAATAGGGATATTATAATTAGATTTAAATTTGGT840                AATAGTATTGTAAAACTGGGGGGACTAGGTTATAAATGGTCCGAAATATCATATAAAGCA900                GCAAATTATCAATATAATTATCTACGTGATGGCGAACAAGTAACTGCACATACTACTTGC960                TCAGTAAATGGAGTAAATAATTTTAGCTACAACGGAGGATCTTTACCTACTGATTTTAGT1020               GTCTCAAGGTATGAAGTTATTAAAGAAAATTCTTATGTATATGTAGATTATTGGGATGAT1080               TCAAAAGCATTTAGAAATATGGTATATGTCAGATCATTAGCAGCTAATTTGAACTCAGTG1140               AAATGTACAGGTGGAAGTTATGACTTTAGTATACCTGTAGGTGCATGGCCAGTCATGAAT1200               GGTGGCGCTGTTTCGTTGCATTTTGCTGGAGTTACATTATCTACGCAATTCACAGATTTC1260               GTATCATTGAATTCACTACGATTTAGATTTAGTTTGACAGTGGATGAGCCATCTTTTTCA1320               ATATTGAGAACACGTACGGTGAATTTGTACGGATTACCAGCTGCAAATCCAAATAATGGA1380               AATGAATACTATGAAATATCAGGAAGGTTTTCGCTCATTTCTTTAGTTCCAACTAATGAT1440               GATTATCAGACTCCAATTATGAATTCAGTAACAGTAAGACAAGATTTAGAACGTCAACTT1500               ACTGATTTACGAGAGGAATTTAATTCATTATCACAAGAAATAGCTATGTCACAATTAATT1560               GATTTAGCGTTATTACCTTTAGATATGTTTTCTATGTTTTCGGAATTAAAAAGTACAATT1620               GATTTGACTAAATCAATGGCAACTAGTGTAATGAAAAAATTTAGAAAATCAAAATTAGCT1680               ACATCAATTTCAGAAATGACTCATTCATTGTCAGACGCAGCATCATCAGCATCAAGAAGC1740               GTTTCTATCAGATCGAATATATCCACAATTTCGAATTGGACTAATGTTTCAAATGATGTA1800               TCAAATGTGACTAATTCGTTGAGTGATATTTCAACACAAACGTCTACAATCAGTAAGAAC1860               CTTAGATTAAAAGAAATGATTACTCAAACTGAAGGAATGAGTTTTGATGATATTTCAGCG1920               GCAGTATTAAAAACAAAAATAGATATGTCTACTCAAATTGGAAAGAATACTTTACCCGAT1980               ATAGTCACAGAGGCATCTGAGAAATTTATTCCAAAACGATCGTATCGAATATTGAAAGAT2040               GATGAAGTAATGGAAATTAATACTGAAGGGAAAGTCTTTGCATATAAAATCGACACACTT2100               AATGAAGTGCCATTTGATGTAAATAAATTTGCTGAACTTGTAACAAATTCTCCAGTTATA2160               TCAGCAATAATCGATTTTAAAACATTAAAAAATTTGAATGATAATTATGGAATTACTCGA2220               ATAGAAGCATTAAATTTAATTAAATCGAATCCAAATGTATTACGTAATTTCATTAACCAA2280               AATAATCCAATTATAAGGAATAGAATTGAACAGCTAATTCTACAATGTAAATTGTGAGAA2340               CGCTATTGAGGATGTGACC2359                                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1062 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Human rotavirus VP7                                              (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                        GGCTTTAAAAGAGAGAATTTCCGTCTGGCTAGCGGATAGCTCCTTTTAATGTATGGTATT60                 GAATATACCACAGTTCTATTTTATTTGATATCGTTCGTTCTTGTGAGTTATATTCTGAAA120                ACCATAATAAAGATAATGGACTATATTATTTATAGAATAGCATTTGTAATTGTAGTATTA180                TCAGTATTATCGAATGCACAAAATTATGGAATAAATTTGCCAATTACTGGATCTATGGAT240                ACAGCATATGCTAACTCAACACAAGACAATAATTTTTTAGTTTCAACTTTATGTCTATAT300                TATCCATCAGAAGCTCCAACTCAAATTAGTGACACTGAATGGAAAGATACACTATCTCAG360                CTGTTTTTAACCAAAGGATGGCCGACAGGTTCAGTTTATTTTAATGAATATTCAAACGTT420                TTAGAATTTTCCATCGACCCAAAGCTATACTGTGATTATAATGTTGTGCTAATTAGATTC480                GTTTCTGGTGAGGAGTTGGACATATCTGAATTAGCTGATCTAATACTGAATGAGTGGTTA540                TGTAATCCAATGGATATAACATTATATTATTACCAACAAACTGGAGAGGCAAACAAATGG600                ATATCAATGGGATCATCATGTACCGTTAAAGTGTGTCCATTAAATACTCAGACATTAGGA660                ATTGGATGTCAAACGACAAATACAGCTACTTTTGAAACAGTTGCTGATAGCGAAAAATTG720                GCAATAATTGATGTTGTCTACATCGTAAATCATAAATTAAATATCACATCTACTACATGT780                ACAATACGGAATTGTAATAAACTAGGACCGAGAGAAAATGTGGCTATAATACAGGTTGGC840                GGTTCTAATATATTAGATATAACAGCTGATCCCACAACTTCTCCACAAACAGAACGAATG900                ATGCGCGTAAACTGGAAAAAATGGTGGCAAGTATTCTACACTGTAGTTGATTACATTAAT960                CAGATAGTACAAGTAATGTCCAAAAGATCAAGATCGTTAGATTCGTCAGCTTTCTATTAT1020               AGAGTGTAGATATATCCTAAAATAGAACTGTTTGATGTGACC1062                                 __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plasmid vector comprising (1) a cytomegalovirus intron A transcriptional regulatory sequence and (2) cytomegalovirus enhancer and promoter sequences operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a rotavirus polypeptide selected from the group consisting of VP4, VP6 and VP7, wherein said rotavirus polypeptide is expressed in a cell of a mammal innoculated with said plasmid vector.
 2. A plasmid vector of claim 1, wherein said cytomegalovirus promoter sequence further comprises the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter sequence.
 3. A plasmid vector of claim 1, wherein said rotavirus polypeptide is VP4.
 4. A plasmid vector of claim 1, wherein said rotavirus polypeptide is VP6.
 5. A plasmid vector of claim 1, wherein said rotavirus polypeptide is VP7. 